Category Archives: Yard & Garden

Good Easy Plants: Catmint (Nepeta faassenii)

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Stacey

You want me to show this to the cat, and have the cat tell you what it is? ‘Cause the cat’s going to get it. – Kirk Van Houten Several years back, I bought three tiny catmint plants. These were … Continue reading →

Posted in Yard & Garden | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Good Easy Plants: Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Stacey

Or what? You’ll release the dogs, or the bees, or the dogs with bees in their mouths and when they bark they shoot bees at you? Well, go ahead — do your worst! – Homer Simpson It’s been a bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Yard & Garden | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Garden Maintenance: Renovating Wood Mulch

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Stacey

 Mmmm…chips… – Homer Simpson Our raised vegetable beds are surrounded by wood chip paths. When we originally put in the beds, we leveled and cleared the whole area and swaddled it lovingly in landscape fabric (a/k/a weed barrier) before adding … Continue reading →

Posted in Before & After, Repair & Maintenance, Yard & Garden | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Good Easy Plants: Clematis

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Stacey

Lisa: It’s not “foilage,” Mom. It’s “foliage.” FO-LI-AGE. Marge: That’s what I said: “foilage.”  – The Simpsons The Kev says “clah-may-tis” and I say “cle-mat-is” but we both say “ooooooh” when they are blooming. (He says it in a manly … Continue reading →

Posted in Yard & Garden | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Good Easy Plants: Weigela

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Stacey

Homer: Uh, I’d like some flowers. Florist: What kind of flowers? Homer: Uh, you know, pretty ones, not dead.  – The Simpsons I haven’t been a gardener all that long. For several years before we got around to landscaping, our … Continue reading →

Posted in Yard & Garden | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mason Bees: No Honey, No Keeping, Just Pollinators

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Stacey

The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them — as is my understanding. – Bart Simpson Kevin’s Uncle Fred kept bees (selling the results of their labor), and seemingly enjoyed it. But when … Continue reading →

Posted in Yard & Garden | Tagged | Leave a comment

We Took Off to the Great White North

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Stacey

Canada? Why should we leave America to visit America Junior? – Homer Simpson The Kev and I just returned from Canada, where we did a little bit of everything from Formula One to whale-watching. We spent most of our holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Siding & Roof, Yard & Garden | Tagged , | 2 Comments

There Are Cute Babies, and Then There are Robin Babies

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Stacey

Marge: Every father thinks his daughter is the cutest. Homer: Well, now there’s a way to prove it. – The Simpsons We mentioned that we are hosting robins on our stoop for the second year running. Here are the pre-robins: And here … Continue reading →

Posted in Before & After, Porch, Yard & Garden | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Holy Nesting Site, Batman!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Stacey

Lisa: When the momma bird returns to feed her babies, we’ll have a prize-winning picture. Bart:  Lisa, people these days don’t want to see a baby bird; they want to see celebrities at their worst. – The Simpsons Last year, a … Continue reading →

Posted in American vs English, Porch, Yard & Garden | Tagged | Leave a comment

Composting Made Easy (Because It Is)

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Stacey

Lisa: I started an organic compost pile at home. Jesse: Only at home? You mean you don’t pocket-mulch? Lisa: Oh, it’s so decomposed! – The Simpsons Occasionally, I do community education sessions on gardening topics. My favorite subject is composting. … Continue reading →

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Posted in Outdoor Building Projects, Yard & Garden | Leave a comment